The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-22
THE BELLTELEPHONE SUIT
MADE SOMEWHAT SENSATIONAL
ny THE DISCOVERY
or the Original Inventor of the In
SirHmsnt, an old Italian
Named Meucci.

CHICAGO, I'LL, January Ell The
case Of the United States sgaintt the
Bell Telephone Company, 10 test the
validity OF thu telephone patent granted
10 Prof. Ball, IL made the occasion OF a
publication here this afternoon, ps to
some OF the points which will be en-
ployed nv he Government counsel t1
combat Prof Bells claim 10 being the
inventor # the telephone. The
Erening Journal, ia outlining the evil
dence, Gays: There is in the city to.
day, an sged Italian, Antonio Meucci,
who, with countel, has come Wet in
the telephone interest which he repre-
sents. Mr.. Meucci was setn by a
Journal reporter this afternoon, and
gave the details OF his case, which,
while limited at, have never been pub
lished bsfore. Antonio Meucci
is an aged man with white hair and a
nerveless hand. He uses very little
English aud conversed during the in
terview in Italian through an inter
preting friend. Ia his possession were
certified papers from the Patent Of
fee. at Washington, and abundant
sffidavits snd testimony dating from
theyear 1862. From the story OF Meucci,
it appears that daring the year 1S49
he was living with his wife in the city
Of Havana, Cuba. He was director
of mechanism, while che YVES superin-
tsndent OF the costume department OF
the Tacon Opera House. During bis
leisure moments and in the morning,
when unengaged, he had expert
mented with electricity and electrical
implements. He had theory that
disease could be cured BY electricity
ana discovered az well, aud while puI-
suing the investigation OF these ideas,
he had determined to try the effects on
friend. A wire and battery were con-
pected, there being complete circuit.
Each wire was connected with a cop
per plate, which the Italian caused
the man to put into his mouth. Both
men were in different rooms, and the
shock to- one caused him to ex-
cain when he put the copper plate
into his mouth. Meucci, at the other
end of the line, had the copper plate
bstween his teeth, aud heard the
sovnd, the communication being
tn ough the medium of the teeth 10
the auditory nerve. He continued to
experiment on the discovery. About
Msy /, 1851, he perfected a paper
cone and conveisgd, though family,
with persons across the street,
using this instrument, mem
braneous disphrsm, like that
used in later years by the Bell
Company. Meucci soon moved 10
New York, where a struggle between
poverty and desire to further his in
vention Interests began. The history
Fl the discovery, ss set forth in the
long interview, and Meucci's right 10
the claim OF priority and his attempts
to tecare his rights through the long
years of extreme poverty would form
n Startling story itself, but whfn rein
forced by the later developments
makes 1t unimpeschabls. Ia New
York the aged inveu tor took his pa
rers, specifications and models to Mr.
GraUt, ut thpt time the vice president
OF the New Yo'k Districs Telegraph
Company, and desired him to submit
them to the electrician exoert of the
company. This Mr.. Grant promised
to do, but kept delsyirg this
for nearly two years. In the
meantime Meucci, fearing 10 lose his
rights, through Mr.. Thomas d. s. ct
son, patent attorney there, he fled
caveat in which the following clauses
relate TO his invention OF a Sound
telegraph" and which csveat was
granted December 20, 1871, five yeas
before that OF Graham Bill. The
Journal then reprints the description
of Meucci's Invention as fled in the
Patent Office at Washington, which is
of great lsugth. After describing bis
claims covering the main points, urged
by Prof. Bel for his patent, Mr..
MeuCci made the following cain in
1872, which is now on file in the
Patent Office:
l. A continuous sound conductor
electrically insulated.
g TIE same adapted for telegraph
ing by sound, or for conversation be-
tween distant parties electrically in
suated.
8. The employment of tound con-
ductor, which is also an electrical con-
ducor, ss means of communication
by sound between distant points.
4. The zane in combination, with
provisions for electrically insulating
the sending and receiving parties.
8. The mouthpiece, or speaking
utensil, in combination with an cleo
tricalIy insulating C nductor.
6. The ear utensils or receiving YES
sells adapted to apply upon the ears in
combination with an electrically intu
la cd sound conductor.
7. The entire system, comprising
the electrical and sound conductor,
insulated and furnished with mouth
piscs and ear pieces at each end,
adapted to serve as specified.
The documentary evidence now on
file in the secret archives OF the Patent
Office is also published by the Journal,
showing that the claims OF Meucci to
inventinz telegrsphing by sound was
recognized by the Con- missioner OF
Patents, together with an acknowledge
ment Of improveme nts Ia December,
1872, and again in December, 1873.
and that these claims embody In great
part the patent isF ued 70 Prof. Bell.